10 Tips to Recognize Ripe Fruits

Consider these simple tips
for recognizing ripe fruits:
• Strawberries: Check the area at
the top of the berry near the stem and
leaves. A ripe strawberry is fully red;
green or white near the top means the
fruit is underripe.
• Watermelon: The “field spot,” or
the area where the melon sat on the
ground, should be yellow, and a tap on
the rind should produce a hollow sound.
• Cherries: Flesh should appear dark
with a crimson color and feel firm.
• Blueberries: Similar to cherries, color
should deepen to dark blue. A reddish
or pink color may be visible in unripe
berries.
• Blackberries: Look for a smooth
texture without any red appearance.
Because blackberries don’t ripen after
being picked, they tend to spoil quickly.

• Cantaloupe: You should detect a
sweet smell, and the melon should feel
heavy upon lifting.
• Peaches: A sweet, fragrant odor
should be apparent. Skin should feel
tender but not soft.
• Pineapple: Smell is again an
important factor for pineapple – a sweet
scent shows it’s ready, but a vinegary
one likely means it’s overripe.
• Raspberries: Generally follow the
same rules as blackberries. Best eaten
within a couple days of purchase, a
bright red color represents ripe berries.
• Bananas: A ripe banana features a
peel lightly spotted without significant
bruising. Your best bet may be to
purchase bananas still slightly green
and allow them to ripen at home.